Minister for Tourism and Culture, Lauren Moss today released the 1987 Cabinet records.

Meteorites Legislation, Kakadu World Heritage Listing And Statehood Were All On The Cabinet Agenda from 1987 as released today under the 30 year rule.

1987 documents provide a chance to reflect on the Territory’s rich history and learn more about government decisions at the time with many events still relevant today.

“In 1987, a feasibility study into establishing a Spaceport in the Northern Territory was considered by Cabinet, with Top End sites including Darwin, Point Stuart, and Nhulunbuy examined as potentials.” Minister Moss said.

“30 years on, in November this year, the Territory Government announced that Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) and Gumatj Corporation have secured land in North East Arnhem Land to establish Australia’s first commercial space centre, the Arnhem Space Centre.”

On 30 November 1987, Cabinet approved the introduction of the Meteorites Bill. The Meteorites Act 1987 ensured protection of meteorites and tektites for its science and tourism values. At the time it was estimated there were 2,800 authentic meteorites found over the whole planet, with 11 being found in the Northern Territory, including the Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve located in the Central Australian desert.

In addition to the introduction of the Meteorites Legislation, the 1987 Northern Territory Government introduced the Northern Territory Shared Equity Home Ownership Scheme to assist potential home owners and existing Housing Commission tenants purchase their dwellings.

Cabinet approved planning for a jet standard aerodrome site north-west of Jabiru to provide Kakadu air access due to the increase in tourism in both the wet and dry seasons.

In May 1987 Stage 2 of the Kakadu National Park, an area of 6,929 sq km situated adjacent to Stage 1, had a cabinet submission to approve a strategy to nominate Kakadu National Park (Stage 2) for World Heritage Listing by the Commonwealth.

On 24 August, the Berry Springs Wildlife Park was vested into the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act. The purpose of this cabinet submission was to formally open the Berry Springs Wildlife Park and ensure the Conservation Commission was legally responsible for the care, control and management of the park.

Issue of Statehood for the Northern Territory, particularly the constitutional disadvantages, was submitted to Cabinet on 11 February 1987. Northern Territory Cabinet directed a number of submissions be prepared that endorsed the principle of constitutional equality with the existing States for Statehood to be granted.

Cabinet records are made public 30 years after they are created under the Northern Territory Information Act.